The Quakertown Review

Dear Quakertown Community,

As we approach the holiday season, I find myself reflecting on the incredible journey we've had in the first semester under my leadership. It is hard to believe how swiftly time has flown, and I am filled with immense pride as I look back on the accomplishments of our district as a whole.

Since August, our days have been marked with dedication, resilience, and outstanding achievements. From the commitment of our educators to the determination of our students, every member of our community has played a crucial role in making this semester a success. Our collective efforts have not only met challenges head-on but have also surpassed any expectations I had coming into our district.

Whether it's the innovative initiatives we've launched, the academic milestones our students have achieved, or the sense of community that binds us together, I am truly proud of what we have accomplished together. Your hard work, enthusiasm, and commitment to excellence have set a high standard for the Quakertown Community School District.

As we enter the holiday season, let's take a moment to appreciate the strength of our community and the positive impact we've had on the lives of our students. It's a season of joy, reflection, and gratitude, and it is a privilege to lead such an exceptional district.

May the spirit of the holidays bring warmth to your homes and hearts. Wishing you all a festive and joyful holiday season and looking forward to the exciting opportunities that the new year will bring.

With gratitude,

Dr. Matthew Friedman

Superintendent of Schools

Quakertown Community School District

FOLLOW DR. FRIEDMAN ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

Facebook: @MatthewFriedman
Instagram: @Dr_friedman

X (Twitter): @MfriedmanPGH

FOLLOW QCSD ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

Facebook: @QCSDSchools
Instagram: @QCSD_Schools
X (Twitter): @QCSD_Schools

The Quakertown Community School District is built on a strong foundation because of our dedicated students, staff, and parents. Now, as we build an even stronger future, we are in the beginning stages of designing a crest that reflects the district’s mission. We are currently seeking input from all stakeholders to allow you, our school community, to help create our new crest.

A crest is a traditional means of expressing a mission statement through representable symbols. The creation of a district crest is not intended to replace the current school district “Q” Panther logo but instead will be used for the website and administrative letterheads. The crest will serve as a symbol that represents the district mission statement in a visual way, as is common practice for a school district. Below are samples of how the district crest could be visually represented. All feedback is welcome and will be considered in the design process, including any submitted responses of design preferences.

Thank you for your invaluable input and partnership.

The Best Buddies Club, led by student leaders Lauren Harwick and Natalie Welliver, organized a toy drive to benefit the Sassy Massey Smiles Foundation. This foundation ensures children receiving care at CHOP receive toys and child life programs during their hospital stay. Club advisors Jenn Honrado and Megan McGinty, along with the help of staff member Kim Povenski, helped plan and carry out the mission. More than 200 club members and QCHS staff donated toys and time to the event.

This fall three Quakertown Community High School students were elected to represent the student body on the Board of Education panel; juniors Aislin Magalengo, Jaelyn Taylor, and Sophia Wang.

They were selected based on past and present leadership, as well as their merit and willingness to advocate for all students. With the goal of improving communications between the school community and the Board of Education, their input provides a student perspective on school-related discussions and decisions.

“I love my school community and felt a need to take a greater role in giving back to a community that has helped me in so many ways," said Magalengo. “Taking on the role as a student representative meant that I would have a great opportunity to learn about my school, and also share the information I know from a student's perspective.”

Magalengo is an avid track team member and is very passionate about improving her peers’ high school experience, in and out of the classroom.

Taylor emphasized a passion for serving her student body.

“This experience influences me to continue to search for ways to not only make my experience at QCHS better but to make it better for my peers as well,” said Taylor. “If anyone has a concern that seems like it can maybe be changed, I want to try my best to see it through.”

Taylor is a big proponent for student involvement and participated in the school's club fair.

Wang commented on the necessity of bringing student voices into the board room, and how it can help improve student life.

“This opportunity has helped me understand more of how everything is planned out and executed for the school,” she said. “It gave me a better understanding of how things are done and what variables have to be taken into consideration. It helps my peers and allows them to give voice to their thoughts.”

Wang explained that she already has a better understanding of how the Board works and all the factors that go into decision making at that level.

“Having student representatives on the school board allows our students to have a voice in decisions that directly impact them,” said Superintendent Dr. Matthew Friedman.

The student representatives will continue to serve throughout the school year and to help bridge the gap between the student body and the board of education and administration.

Quakertown High School students were honored on Wednesday, November 8, for their dedication to athletic success. Five students were celebrated by their coaches and the community for their commitment to continue to learn and grow.

The students recognized include Ava Beal, committed to University of Albany for Softball, Abbey Wagner, committed to Kutztown University for Softball, Calvin Lachman and Mason Ziegler, both committed to Lehigh University for Wrestling, and Kiera Gallager, who also committed to Kutztown University for Field Hockey.

“These student athletes have worked very hard, both in the classroom and at their sport to achieve outstanding success,” said Coordinator of Student Activities and Athletics Sylvia Kalazs.

Each coach spoke on behalf of the honored students, commending their dedication and hard work through the years. These coaches will continue to advocate for and support their honored student athletes throughout their college journey.

On Monday, November 6, Quakertown Community High School held a Multicultural Day to celebrate students of all heritages and backgrounds. This event supports the district’s No Place for Hate initiative.

The Social Justice Club, led by World Language Teacher Bethany Fuller, hosted this day which represented more than 20 nationalities. This event was held in the gymnasium and allowed attendees to browse tables with facts, maps, food and drinks and artifacts/dress that represented different cultures.

Students performed dances and played games, as well. All students were welcomed, and some even brought family members to share in the celebration and education.

Teacher Sean Burke shared that he saw a whole new side to students that he had never seen in class.

Students and faculty had their photos taken with “No Place for Hate” picture frames throughout the day.

“It was wonderful to see the pride students showed in their cultures,” said Kim Finnerty, house principal for grades 10-12, “It was a great day, and we hope to improve and expand this annual event in the years to come.”

The school community has instituted the event to happen annually, as a consistent reminder that Quakertown is no place for hate.

Members of the Quakertown Community High School baseball team were able to hone their pitching skills during a one-on-one coaching session on Saturday morning with Hall of Famer and Phillies pitching legend, Steve Carlton. Sponsored by St. Luke’s University Health Network and Sports Medicine, the clinic took place on the grounds of Quakertown’s newest multi sports field at the Sixth Grade Campus located on the corner of S. 9th and Main Streets, where construction started in June.

Just as Carlton won the 1980 World Series as the starting and winning pitcher in Game 6, playing on artificial turf, Quakertown’s new field coincidentally has the same material. The state-of-the-art field, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year, will be used for baseball, soccer, and other sports. Another benefit of the new field is its location, which is within walking distance of the high school.

“It is important for our kids to get outside and socialize together. Sports participation can lead to greater academic success, as well as more engagement and better performance in the classroom,” said School Board Member Glenn Iosue.

St. Luke’s is a long-standing supporter of the school district and is funding an upgraded digital scoreboard. Also, St. Luke's is partnering with the school district to provide more services at no cost such as athletic trainers and ambulances at athletic events.

The multi sports field provides a much-needed home field for the Panthers Baseball Team. The team, led by Coach Jonathan Pallone, has made the community proud by making the district playoffs for the past six years. The Panthers were one game shy of qualifying for the state tournament earlier this year. Additionally, the team has proven their dedication on and off the field by receiving national recognition for their academic success.

For the fifth year in a row, the Panthers received the American Baseball Coaches Association’s 2022-23 ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award, which recognizes college and high school programs from across the country that posted a GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale for the entire 2022-23 academic year. Quakertown was one of seven high school teams in Pennsylvania to receive this prestigious recognition, demonstrating their commitment to excellence on the field and in the classroom.

“We are incredibly proud of our baseball team here at Quakertown, who have proven the ability to balance their athletic pursuits while remaining focused on their education, demonstrating academic excellence time and time again,” said Dr. Matthew Friedman, Superintendent of Schools. “Here at Quakertown, we emphasize that ‘student’ comes first in a ‘student-athlete’ and excellence in the classroom is just as important as it is on the field. We thank St. Luke’s for their continued support and partnership with Quakertown Community School District and Steve Carlton for this unforgettable experience for our students and community who were able to meet a baseball local legend while fine tuning their skills on the field.”

At November’s Board of Education Meeting, students from all Quakertown Community Schools were recognized for their hard work and dedication to keeping educational spaces a place of respect, leadership and learning. Superintendent Matt Friedman commended these students along with their principals for the outstanding example they set for their peers.

The Aspire class worked hard to make the QCSD Board Room and Community Room look festive for the holiday season. We are so thankful for their efforts.

An innovative mobile learning experience has been making its way across Bucks County schools, visiting Quakertown Community School District during the month of October for immersive learning. Most recently, they made a stop at Richland Elementary, where students in first through fifth grade learned skills in computer science and digital fabrication.

FabLab, short for “fabrication” focuses on STEAM activities (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) for an engaging and captivating learning experience. Based in Bucks County, the FabLab team works to create fun and exciting classes for students grade 1-8. The van itself carries high-tech equipment to provide students with the best experience possible.

“This type of mobile education has been extremely beneficial for the students of Quakertown,” said Superintendent Dr. Matthew Friedman. “The FabLab provides a fresh take on 21st century learning and gives students opportunities to explore potential career interests early on in their development and introduces new ways to learn.”

On a recent visit to Neidig, students had the opportunity to build 3D versions of their recently completed landforms from previous classwork. The class was able to take their previous learning experience and expand upon it through computer science.

“After studying landforms, this really brings it to life for them,” Mrs. Klee said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for them to be exposed to this in elementary school and may spark an interest to learn more at the high school level.”

The FabLab also took a stop to Quakertown Community School District’s Sixth Grade Center on October 23, where sixth grade students learned about Ancient Mesopotamia and laser printing.

“We had an exciting experience with Mr. Hayden from the Mobile FabLab during the visit to the Sixth Grade Campus. The FabLab is short for a fabrication laboratory. In social studies classes our students were introduced to ancient Mesopotamia through writing Cuneiform and using laser printers to create an amazing display on our new obelisk. What an engaging preview for their upcoming unit of study! During math extension classes, our FabLab students were coding using robots. Students were having fun collaborating, creating, and discovering through problem solving and teamwork. We would like to thank the Bucks IU and the Fab Lab for the STEAM fun and innovation!”

QCSD looks forward to the continuation of FabLab visits and educational opportunities.

On September 22, Quakertown held its annual “Go Gold” fundraiser to support childhood cancer awareness at the QCSD football game. Each year, this event raises money for local families battling childhood cancer. Gold t-shirts were sold that sported the phrase “Paint the town gold” to honor Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The inspiration behind the fundraiser, Harrison Willing, was honored with a touching moment of silence before the game. His memory carries through the community and further drives their passion for the fundraiser.

A chapter of Science National Honor Society was established in Quakertown HS this fall. SNHS chapter advisor, Mr. Kurt Amen, welcomed eleven new members at their Inaugural Induction Ceremony. These students have met strict chapter membership requirements to have one AP science credit in previous school year and at least two AP science credits during the current school year while maintaining the grade levels across all subjects is 3.0 in an unweighted system, and their science grade levels averages must be 3.5 out of 4.0 overall.

Quakertown Community High School held its annual Panther Clubs and Sports Fair on September 28, providing students with the opportunity to network and learn about the school’s nearly 50 extracurricular activities. Student representatives and teachers were on hand to engage with high school students and provide information about the different activities ranging from sports and the arts to human interests, including the high school’s chapter of the Best Buddies Club, an international organization focused on connection.

Members of the Best Buddies Club work in the community to build one-to-one relationships within the community including with those who have intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Working with their peers, often underclassmen, members form meaningful connections and foster self-confidence by sharing interests, experiences and activities including field trips.

Lauren Harwick, a senior and member of the Best Buddies Club, recognized the value of the face-to-face interaction that the fair provides. There, she was able to share her club’s greater mission. In addition to helping with special events like Trunk or Treats and holiday craft making, members of the Best Buddies Club attend field trips with Trumbauersville Life Skills students, offering one-on-one time, to enhance their experiences, provide guidance and companionship.

“Being a ‘Best Buddy’ means offering friendship to everyone and lending a hand to someone that may feel otherwise isolated or excluded. I am so proud of Quakertown High School and our extracurricular offerings. I believe working together we can change the dynamic of the high school community for the better, making us all more aware and understanding of all people who may need a friendly face,” said Harwick.

Also focused on inclusion, the QCSD Genders and Sexualities Alliance (GSA) Chapter received several ally pledges from students seeking to support their fellow classmates. The GSA club aims to create a safe, welcoming, and accepting school environment for students, inclusive of all sexual orientations or gender identities.

"The club fair was a really great opportunity for the student body to show they are full of comradery and community. As a club, we want to create a safe space for LGBTQ students to talk about their feelings, questions and any issues they may be facing so they know they are not alone in their journey. We had several pledges from fellow classmates to show their support which was inspiring to see,” said senior and GSA member Carnelian Hoag.

Carrie Okken, Club and Activities Coordinator for the high school, was floored by the large crowd of students who attended and their genuine interest in helping their peers get connected so all students have a sense of belonging within the school community.

“It is inspiring to see so many students sharing what they love with their peers and their genuine care for their fellow classmate's involvement and growth. We know that students who are connected with the school community tend to perform better academically. Thank you to advisors for providing these exciting opportunities for our students,” said Okken.

Following the Covid-19 pandemic, the event was created three years ago with the goal to help students reconnect with each other. Through sports and club participation, students can gain a greater sense of involvement and make lifelong connections.

“We want to do everything possible inside and outside of the classroom to help our students create positive relationships, enhance mental health and wellness, and create a strong sense of community and belonging. We wanted to provide an opportunity for them to network in person and research on their own accord, to find a place where they belong in the school community,” said Kim Finnerty, House Principal of Quakertown Community High School.

Dr. Michael Zackon, the district’s Director of Secondary Education, was impressed with the
efforts of the faculty, staff, and building administration to put on the fair, who spent a significant amount of time outside of normal working hours to create a positive culture and climate for students.

“Our faculty and staff who support our sports and clubs go above and beyond their day-to-day
duty. Their commitment and involvement show how much they deeply care about our students’ overall wellbeing, as they are clearly dedicated to serving our students in their academic and social growth. The fair is an example of Quakertown’s commitment to providing learning opportunities outside of a normal school day to benefit our students,” said Dr. Zackon.